U.S. patent number 5,420,606 [Application Number 08/123,192] was granted by the patent office on 1995-05-30 for instant electronic coupon verification system.
Invention is credited to Paul G. Begum, Mark A. Geiger.
United States Patent |
5,420,606 |
Begum , et al. |
May 30, 1995 |
Instant electronic coupon verification system
Abstract
An electronic paperless couponing system in which a store
provides shoppers with an electronic communications device having a
display screen for display of a graphic of a redemption coupon that
represents a discount for an item in the store available for
purchase. The communication device has a selection button to enter
the selection of the coupon indicating the user's desire to redeem
the coupon and a memory to record the selection until the shopper
reaches the checkout counter and deducted from the purchases when
it is determined that the item subject to the discount has been
purchased.
Inventors: |
Begum; Paul G. (Salt Lake City,
UT), Geiger; Mark A. (Midvale, UT) |
Family
ID: |
22407215 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/123,192 |
Filed: |
September 20, 1993 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/156;
235/382.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q
20/387 (20130101); G07F 17/0014 (20130101); G07G
1/0036 (20130101); G07G 1/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07G
1/12 (20060101); G07G 1/00 (20060101); G07F
7/00 (20060101); G09G 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;345/156
;340/825.35,825.54,825.55,825.69,825.72 ;235/435,381,382.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Weldon; Ulysses
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Bielen, Peterson & Lampe
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An electronic paperless couponing system for shoppers for use in
a store having a purchase item checkout means comprising:
an electronic communication device having a display screen for
display of a graphic of a redemption coupon, the coupon graphic
communicating a discount for a product item offered for purchase by
the store;
display screen control means for generating and displaying the
coupon graphic in the display screen;
user control means on the communication device for electively
selecting the coupon graphic displayed, thereby indicating the
shopper's intent to receive the discount represented by the
redemption coupon;
memory means in the communication device to record the user
selection and acceptance of the coupon discount on the product
item;
communication means in the communication device wherein the
communication means communicates the recorded selection of the
coupon to the purchase item checkout means, wherein the purchase
item checkout means includes a checkout register means for
deducting the discount from the product item that is the subject of
the redemption coupon when the coupon graphic for that product item
has been electively selected and the product is purchased by the
shopper, and, not deducting the discount from the product item that
is the subject of the redemption coupon when the product is
purchased by the shopper and the coupon graphic has not been
selected.
2. The electronic paperless couponing system of claim 1 wherein the
purchase item checkout means includes a checkout person and the
checkout register means comprises a cash register, wherein the
checkout person enters the discount in the cash register.
3. The electronic paperless couponing system of claim 1 wherein the
checkout means is a store terminal and the communications means
includes a data output electronically connected to the store
terminal wherein the discount is automatically deducted from the
product item when calculating purchased items.
4. The electronic paperless couponing system of claim 1 wherein the
checkout means is a store terminal and the data output of the
communication means includes a transmitter, and the communication
means includes a receiver electronically connected to the store
terminal wherein the communication of the communication means with
the store terminal is by a wireless data transfer signal through
the data output of the communication means.
5. The electronic paperless couponing system of claim 4 wherein the
communication means communicates with the store terminal by
digitized data through the wireless data transfer signal.
6. The electronic paperless couponing system of claim 5 wherein the
digitized data includes data identifying the product item for which
product discount is discounted by the store terminal.
7. The electronic paperless couponing system of claim 6 wherein the
digitized data includes an amount of the product discount.
8. The electronic paperless couponing system of claim 7 wherein the
digitized data includes a product identification number associated
with the product item subject to a discount.
9. The electronic paperless couponing system of claim 4 wherein the
store terminal includes an electronically connected scanner that
recognizes a product item bar code, the product item subject to a
discount includes a bar code, and the communication means
communicates with the store terminal by digitized data through the
wireless data transfer signal, wherein the digitized data includes
a bar code identification number of the bar code for the product
item subject to the discount.
10. The electronic paperless couponing system of claim 1 wherein
the electronic communication device has query controls and the
memory means includes a plurality of graphics of different
redemptions coupons, wherein the shopper can sequentially display
the plurality of graphics of redemption coupons and wherein each
selection of a redemption coupon indicating acceptance of the
coupon discount for the product item associated with a particular
redemption coupon is recorded in the memory means.
11. The electronic paperless couponing system of claim 1 wherein
the store has a plurality of transmitter means for transmitting a
graphic of a redemption coupon by a wireless data signal and the
electronic communication device includes a receiver means for
receiving the transmitted graphic of a redemption coupon and
automatically displaying the coupon graphic on the display screen
without action by the shopper.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electronic paperless couponing system
that allows an in-store, electronic coupon to be issued and
redeemed without the necessity of putting the coupon on paper or
other tangible medium. In the marketplace, the redemption coupon
has become a popular means of both advertising a product and
providing the consumer with a financial benefit. The redemption
coupon customarily allows the holder of the coupon to receive a
special savings on one or more products that is not available to
other shoppers who do not possess the coupon. The coupon upon
redemption provides a means for tracking customer tastes and
reactions. Information can be correlated with other marketing data
to develop a customer profile for intelligent analysis of product
promotions.
Unfortunately, because redemption coupons frequently have a cash
redemption, the conventional system is subject to abuse. Redemption
coupons can be submitted in large numbers to the product
manufacturer by unscrupulous retailers without the product having
ever been purchased. Because of the difficulty in correlating the
number of available redemption coupons with the specialty items
sold, the conventional system is subject to manipulation. It would
be extremely desirable to a product manufacturer, if a redemption
coupon presented to a potential purchaser was directly correlated
with the purchase of an item that is the subject of the coupon. It
would be even more desirable if it were possible to assure that the
purchaser inspected the coupon and the exercise of the coupon
resulted in a direct savings to the shopper. In this manner, each
time that the redemption coupon is exercised by the consumer, the
manufacturer is assured that an exercised coupon for a specific
product is directly related to the identical product being
purchased by that customer. Such a system would eliminate the
potential for abuse and permit redemption of only those coupons
that are actually exercised by a consumer and resulted in a savings
to that shopper upon purchase of the specified item. Additionally,
an electronic system that provides both for the display of the
electronic coupon and the electronic issuance and redemption of
such coupon can wholly avoid the necessity for printing and
publishing coupons in material form and the attendant expense of
such printing and distribution.
In its preferred form, the electronic coupon system is incorporated
into a portable shopper's display system that in turn is
coordinated with an in-store electronic marketing system,
preferably of the type disclosed in U.S. patent application
entitled Automated Shopping Cart Handle, U.S. Ser. No. 08/090,285,
filed Jul. 12, 1993.
The electronic paperless couponing system of this invention can be
combined with the point of purchase promotional system described in
the referenced patent application, or, can be an independent system
designed exclusively to provide electronic coupons to prospective
purchasers. In its preferred embodiment the couponing system
utilizes standard bar code data and product identification numbers
to coordinate the coupon issuance with the product sales accounting
using existing store or manufacturer accounting systems in
conjunction with the systems computer that issues, records and
redeems the discount coupons in the electronic paperless couponing
system of this invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The electronic paperless couponing system of this invention is an
electronic in-store coupon issuing and redeeming system that avoids
the necessity of printing and collecting paper coupons. The
advantage of the system is that a coupon displayed to a prospective
purchaser is actively selected by the purchaser and the selection
is correlated with the actual purchase of the item that is subject
to a coupon discount by that purchaser. The coupon selection and
item purchased are recorded to provide an audit trail to insure
that the promotion for the discounted item was reviewed by the
shopper and that the subject item to the discount was, in fact,
purchased by that shopper.
The system operates with the use of an electronic display device in
the form of a communication unit. The communication unit has a
display screen to electronically display a graphic of the
promotional coupon for the discounted item. The communication unit
has a user control to allow the user to select the displayed
coupon, if desired. The communication unit also has a transmission
circuit to allow the event of the coupon selection to be
communicated at checkout. In this manner, when the item selected is
added to the checkout list of items purchased, the amount of the
discount for the coupon item is then deducted from the purchase
total.
In the preferred embodiment, the communication unit electronically
communicates to the checkout register automatically. This is
accomplished by a coupon interface module mounted in each checkout
stand that alerts the communication unit used by the shopper in
selecting coupons to identify the coupons selected and hence the
items to be discounted. The communication unit transmits a digital
data signal to the interface module identifying the coupons
accepted by the purchaser for redemption. The coupon interface
module is electronically connected to the checkout register, and
when the purchased item is identified and entered, the discount is
automatically deducted from the amount of the item entered, as a
deducted amount immediately below the amount of the listed item,
or, as a deduction from the total, depending on the desire of the
store manager or the capability of the checkout register.
In a modern supermarket, items are generally scanned by a product
scanner connected to an electronic checkout terminal which detects
a bar code that generally identifies the item purchased. The
terminal automatically provides the product name and item price for
printout on the checkout list or receipt provided to the customer.
The terminal is connected to a store computer which provides a
central location for accessed product data for the many checkout
terminals in the store. The checkout terminals also communicate the
data generated at the terminals to the store computer to allow for
central accounting and inventory control. The discounted items are
appropriately tagged to permit the store manager to track the
coupons redeemed and correlate to the coupons redeemed with items
purchased.
Since it is desirable to manage the paperless electronic coupon
system independently of the store computer, a separate systems
controller is employed. This controller is essentially a computer
that communicates with the coupon interface modules to extract the
information from the data stream between the checkout terminals and
the store computer, and coordinates the action of the interface
module in injecting discount data to the terminal and store
computer during checkout.
In the preferred embodiment, the communication units are primarily
portable and communicate with the coupon interface modules via
wireless data transmissions. Furthermore, the discount coupons are
preferably activated when the shopper is in the market area
proximate the location of the discounted items. In this situation,
a local message sending unit proximate the location of the item
activates the display of the coupon graphic on the display screen
of the communication unit carried by the shopper or mounted on the
shopper's cart. The shopper is prompted by a screen cue, for
example, "select coupon now" and may press a select button on his
communication unit to log-in the discount. Since it is the
intention that only the shopper who enters the coupon selection
received the discount, an incentive is provided to keep an eye on
the display screen. This attention attraction incidentally benefits
other product promotions displayed on the screen that are available
to all without user entry of the selection.
The message sending unit activates the screen display on detecting
the communication unit within a defined range and transmits the
data signal to the unit by a wireless transmission signal. To
monitor and program the variously located message sending units
with area specific coupons or other information such as product
promotions, advertisements or other data of interest, the system
controller communicates with the message sending unit via wireless
data transmission. The use of wireless transmission means minimizes
the system installation costs and maximizes the mobility of the
message sending units for relocation for changes in product
promotions. The systems controller is preferably a conventional
computer with a keyboard input, a display screen and an outside
communications link such as a modem for communication with a
regional or national network. In this manner, editing, accounting
and monitoring of systems performance can be done locally at the
store site, or remotely from a regional or national center where
promotionals are solicited and display graphics are created.
The paperless couponing system of this invention can range from a
simple display device mounted at the checkout counter that displays
coupons to a shopper for selection and redemption at checkout to an
elaborate personal in-store communications system in which the user
is provided with his own communication device with tools such as
product directories, and sales enhancers such as automatically
transmitted discount coupons and product promotions. In such a
system, both the shopper and store manager benefit.
These and other features are described in the detailed description
of the preferred embodiment that follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the electronic paperless
couponing system.
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the system of FIG. 1 in a
supermarket aisle.
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of certain electronic
components of the system of claim 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the schematic diagram of FIG. 1, the electronic
paperless couponing system is designated generally by the reference
numeral 10. The system in its preferred embodiment is incorporated
into an electronic display device 12 for customer use in a
marketplace such as a modern supermarket or department store. The
electronic display device 12 is designed to provide customer
assistance through selective display of product directories, and
point of purchase promotions, wherein display of product promotions
are activated proximate the physical location of the promoted
product. This system is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,882,724 of Vela et al, issued 21 Nov. 1989 and in patent
application, Ser. No. 08/090,285 of Begum, filed Jul. 12, 1993.
However, it is to be understood that the paperless electronic
couponing system of this invention can be utilized as a stand-alone
system without incorporating the features of the cited
references.
The customer display device 12 is part of a portable communication
unit 14 having a control panel 15 with a display screen 16 and
easily operated user controls 18, such as complementary up and down
scroll buttons 20, 22, and select buttons 24. The user controls 18
in the preferred device are located on each side of the display
screen 16 and are redundant, that is, allow operations to be
performed by either one of the user's thumbs when the unit is
mounted on a shopping cart handle 26. The user's hands are
customarily positioned on the handle on either side of the display
device, and as shown schematically in FIG. 1, provide full access
to the set of control buttons 18 on either side of the screen 16 by
either one of the user's thumbs, while retaining one of the user's
hands on the handle. The other hand can be free to reach for
products or do other things usually done in the shopping
environment.
The electronic display device 12 may be integrated into the
shopping cart handle 26 or attached thereto by an attachment
mechanism such as side clamps 28. The use of an attachment
mechanism allows the display device 12 to be attached to existing
shopping carts in a supermarket without change to the cart.
Additionally, the communication unit 14 can be attached to a
shopping basket commonly provided by grocery stores, hardware
stores and the like.
In one embodiment, the portable communication unit 14 has internal
electronic microcircuitry that periodically displays a product
coupon 30 in the display screen 16. The product coupon display data
that forms the image graphic of the product coupon 30 is retrieved
from a coupon data file 32 in the random access storage memory 34
of the unit 14 as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3. After
viewing the coupon, the shopper may elect to select the displayed
coupon by pressing one of the select buttons 24 on the control
panel 15 of the portable communication unit 14, while the coupon is
being displayed, or within an additional short period of time after
display. The relevant product control data relating to the selected
coupon and the related product, such as the coupon identification
number, product identification number, bar code number, and savings
amount, are then stored in a coupon exception file 36 in the memory
34 of the communication unit 14. The product identification number
will customarily correspond to the universal product code
(UPC).
The portable communication unit 14 has an internal wireless
communicator 38, in the form of an infrared or radio frequency
transmitter 39, schematically represented in FIG. 1. When the
communication unit 14 is prompted at a checkout counter 41, for
example, manually by the checkout person 43 manipulating a reset
switch 42 on the communication unit 14, the coupon exception file
36 is transmitted by the transmitter 39 to a receiver 44 in an
electronic coupon interface unit 45 at the checkout counter, and
the file in the communication unit 14 is cleared for reuse.
At the checkout counter 41, a point of sale terminal 46 is
connected to a checkout counter bar code scanner 48 and register
47. The point-of-sale terminal is also electronically connected to
the electronic coupon interface unit 45. The receiver 44 of the
interface unit 45 receives the coupon exception file 36 transmitted
from the communication unit 14, and compares the product
identification number and/or bar code number of selected coupons
with the corresponding numbers of the items being checked at the
checkout counter through the checkout terminal 46. This procedure
in the preferred embodiment occurs automatically upon scanning by
the product scanner as monitored by the interface unit 45. When
purchased items are matched with coupon selections, the register
automatically deducts the coupon savings from the checked item and
relays the coupon's product control data, along with additional
selected data, including cash register terminal number, store
identification, time and date of purchase, into a coupon redemption
file in a main store computer 49 that is electronically connected
to each of the checkout counter terminals. This data is also
transmitted via the coupon interface unit 45 via transceivers 51 to
a systems controller 50 that operates the electronic couponing
system.
The systems controller 50 communicates periodically with a coupon
redemption center computer (not shown) for coupon crediting and
accounting via radio or microwave transmitter, or by use of a low
cost telephone modem. Alternately, each manufacturer or distributor
of a purchase item subject to a coupon deduction can poll the store
computer 49 or systems controller 50 to selectively extract the
crediting and accounting data for its redeemed coupons.
In an alternate embodiment, the portable communication unit 14 has
a wireless communicator 38 that is a transceiver to both receive as
well as transmit data. The transceiver 56 allows the portable
communication unit 14 to be loaded with coupon data remotely. This
is important in a market setting where coupons may be discontinued
while shopping carts and baskets are in use. Naturally, coupons
selected before discontinuance would be honored at the checkout
counter. The product control data recorded in the coupon exceptions
file is not affected by deletion of the coupon display data or the
control data associated with the coupon display data. The data in
the exceptions file identifying the shopper's selected coupon
discounts is saved until the exception file is cleared and reset at
the checkout counter.
In addition to the remote loading and discontinuance, the use of a
transceiver enables the display of coupons to be generated
proximate the store location of the item that is the subject of the
coupon. This point of purchase display of the subject coupon can be
accomplished by the use of a stationary message sending unit 58
that is located on or proximate the display gondola 61 for the item
as shown in FIG. 2. Each message sending unit 58 is locationally
identified and loaded with locationally specific data by the
storewide systems controller 50 that remotely transmits storewide
transmission signals. In this embodiment, the product control data
accompanying the coupon display data includes the identity, hence
location, of the transmitting message sending unit 58. This
locational data can be recorded into the coupon exception files for
download at the checkout counter whether or not coupons have been
selected. In this manner, the shopper can be tracked from station
to station to allow development of additional marketing
information.
In operation, the portable communication unit 14 transmits a
periodic low level signal, which is detected at a threshold level
by the pre-programmed message sending unit 58. Alternately, to
conserve power on the portable unit 14, which is minimized in size
and therefore has a small battery pack, the message sending unit 58
has a motion detector 62 to detect the presence of a communication
unit 14 and transmit a wake-up call, as a cart is rolled by, or a
shopper walks by the message sending unit 58. The wake-up
transmission activates any communication units 14 within range of
the message sending and transmits a digital data signal
incorporating the locationally specific product coupon data and
product control data to the communication unit 14.
The stationary message sending unit 58 is similar in design to the
portable communication unit 14 and at certain locations includes a
display screen 64 for simultaneous display of the coupon. Together
with a small cue light 66 on the control panel 18 of the
communication unit 14 and a cue light 68 on the display screen 64
of the message sending unit, the visual display by the message
sending unit 58 prompts the shopper to refer to his own control
panel display and select the coupon if desired. While the display
screen 64 on the message sending unit 58 can be omitted, it
nevertheless has some advantage in prompting those shoppers without
carts or baskets that a coupon is available.
Once at the checkout counter, this shopper can enter a coupon
selection by use of an available basket, cart or fixed communicator
unit 70 mounted on the checkout counters shown in FIG. 1. The
appropriate coupon can be located after scrolling through the
coupon data file 32, displayed and selected with the scroll and
select buttons for quick access.
As mentioned, in its preferred embodiment, the electronic paperless
couponing system is operated in association with a product
directory and point of purchase product promotional system as
described in the referenced application and patent. As an
improvement, to enable selective update of point of purchase
promotional advertisements that are associated with a particular
one of the store distributed message sending units, the message
sending unit transmits the product promotional display data, which
is similar in form and content to the product coupon display data,
to the communication unit 14. The product promotional display data
is received by the communication unit 14, temporarily stored in a
buffer 69 -and processed by a central processor 71 in the
communicator unit 14 to prompt display of the promotional screen
display. The screen display is generated directly from formatted
screen display data from the processed transmission signal, or,
indirectly, after comparison with product promotional display data
stored in a promotional data file 73 in the random access storage
memory 34 of the communicator unit 14, as a retrieved and processed
memory file. The processor 71 preferably includes programmed
instructions to display the first formatted screen display data
ready for relay to the graphics controller 72 of the display screen
16 only after a file comparison to validate the screen display data
as current. This will insure that the promotional screen display is
the updated version and is displayed as rapidly as possible.
When the compared data for screen display indicate the stored data
file is outdated, the stored file is deleted and the new screen
display data of the processed transmission signal is stored in the
promotional data file 73 in memory in its stead. Concurrently, any
promotional control data accompanying the promotional screen
display data is updated, replaced or deleted.
Alternately, the central processor 71 of the communication unit 14
includes programmed instructions to set as a preference the display
of the processed transmission signal, unless garbled or otherwise
incomplete, where default reliance on the stored data file is then
prompted. Again, comparison of the transmitted screen display data
and associated control data with the stored screen data and
associated control data in the promotional data file 73 is
performed by the processor 71 to insure storage of the most recent
data, except, of course, where the promotion is terminated and the
associated data deleted.
Screen displays retrieved from the stored promotional display file
73 and coupon data file 32 can also be periodically and
automatically displayed on the display screen elsewhere in the
shopping area, by programmed instructions of the processor 68 to
retrieve the display files from memory and display the files to
screen on timed intervals. In general, the store manager receives
compensation according to frequency of display of a coupon or
promotional, and a tailored program is generated by the store
manager to control the timing and frequency of select coupons and
promotions. Additionally, the shoppers, by use of the thumb
controls 18 on the control panel 15 can select from a screen menu
file 74, and access the coupon file 32 or promotional file 73 in
memory 34 and scroll through the files to review the screen
displays of available electronic coupons or promotional items.
Referring to FIG. 2, the message sending unit 58 may be constructed
with the control circuitry and battery pack 76 displaced from the
front display area of a product gondola 61, as shown, to minimize
the occupation of valuable shelf space. The display screen 64 of
the message sending unit 58 may be cantilevered from a shelf 82, as
shown, or alternatively mounted against the edge of the shelf, (not
shown) to maximize exposure and minimize shelf space usage. The
message sending unit 58 has the motion detector 62 positioned to
sense motion within a limited local field such that only the
communication unit or units proximate the unit 58 are awakened, as
previously noted. Alternately, as noted, the communication unit 14
sends out a periodic wake-up pulse that is received by the message
sending unit 58 to awaken the unit 58 to then send the graphic and
accompanying product control data. A blinking cue light 68 signals
that this is a promotional or couponing station, and the shopper
should pay special attention to the screen 16 of his communication
unit 14.
The message sending unit 58 has a high powered spread spectrum
radio receiver to receive data from the store's central systems
controller 50 equipped with a high-power spread-spectrum
transmitter. In this manner, all message sending units in a market
place can be programmed from a central location regardless of the
location of individual message sending units throughout the
store.
The low power, local transceiver 38 in the communications unit 14,
however, has a short range designed to communicate with local
communication units such as the message sending unit 58 for wake-up
and the coupon interface unit 45 at checkout. As shown in FIG. 3,
the display screen 64 for the message sending unit can be replaced
with a simple sign 84 shown mounted on the end of a wand 86
connected to the control circuitry and battery pack 87 located on
the top of the gondola 61. The curved wand 86 has a cue light 88
and motion detector 90 where the feature sign 84 is mounted. In
this configuration, the antenna of a low power transceiver 92 is
incorporated into the wand.
Referring to the block diagram of FIG. 3, the internal operation of
the system can be better understood. A common platform is used for
each communication unit 14 and each message sending unit 58
typified in FIGS. 1 and 2.
A central processor 71 manages the tasks with a Motorola M68HC11 to
provide the necessary communication capabilities at a reasonable
cost. The central processor 71 electronically communicates with a
power supply circuit 93 with a battery pack 100 and with a motion
detector interface 94 in the case of the message sending unit 58,
and, with a keyboard 96 for interfacing the control button
subcircuit 97 in the case of the communication unit 14. As
electronic coupon interface module 98 also shown in enlarged detail
in FIG. 3 provides the chip set and specialty application
programming necessary to adapt to the bar code scanner and checkout
terminal at the checkout counter, and communicates with the store
computer and systems controller. The central processor 71 utilizes
a static 256K RAM 100 for random access memory 106 and a 64K EPROM
for read only memory 102 under operation of an application program
105.
The central processor 71 also drives an Actel FPGA 2400 gates chip
103 for data flow from the low power transceiver 104, the high
power transceiver 107 and the LCD controller 108 which drives the
display screen.
In operation, the communication unit 14 provides the shopper with a
tool having easy to operate controls for locating items from a
directory or reviewing promotions and coupons stored in memory. The
promotional system also provides an advantage to the store manager
to provide promotional items and coupon items to a shopper for
voluntary review or for automatic display either periodically or at
a particular location where the promoted item or coupon item is
located.
While, in the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention have
been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a
complete disclosure of the invention, it may be apparent to those
of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such
detail without departing from the spirit and principles of the
invention.
* * * * *